Life and Law by Anna

Friday, May 13, 2016

Itinerary making is not to be taken lightly. I spent many hours on this and went through multiple drafts before settling on this one. Of course, we made little adjustments throughout each day. And then, each night we went over the next day's schedule and made changes.

Regardless, here is what we ended up doing each day. The pedometer on my phone showed that we were walking an average of 15 miles a day. We packed it in from early am to late pm. And we all survived, learned a lot and loved all the exploring.

Tuesday

Flight from MSP to Baltimore/Washington 8:05 ET

Town Car from TransGapLimo (better deal than taxi) to Best Western Rosslyn/Iwo Jima in Arlington VA

Breakfast at Wicked Waffle (yes, again – it was good, cheap and quick)

10:45 arrive at White House for 11 am Tour – takes a while to get in through security checkpoints, but once inside it's a self-guided tour that you can go through at your own pace. We took our time – how many times in your life do you get to spend time in the White House!

What got pushed off the schedule due to time was the National Gallery of Art, and I really regret this.

While there were a few things we really enjoyed seeing at American History and Natural History Smithsonian museums, we were not greatly impressed by these museums, as a whole.

I must say that in my mind's eye my 8th grade self was greatly impressed, but I had not seen much of the world at this point in my life. And my children have at their young ages already been to many impressive places and museums and exhibits. So, they are certainly wonderful museums, but we were simply underwhelmed by them and I wish we had instead gone to some of the many art museums.

We stumbled upon a beautiful sculpture garden and a sunken garden, farmers' market and the National Botanical Garden in our meanderings and relished in these little finds along the way. Everywhere we went we made friends and found helpful, kind, patient people.

We definitely took more time than planned at some places and less time at others. So, in the end it worked out. We chose to do a tour everywhere possible. We always got so much out of each of the tours – information, stories, tips we would have never known about on our own.

Each of us had input regarding what made it on to our schedule. This is why Madame Tussauds Wax Museum ended up on the itinerary. My 7.5 year old son had seen a kid Youtuber do a review of it and REALLY wanted to go. I was not thrilled with adding this, but it was his No. 1 pick! And I have to say it was a really nice surprise. We were all so glad we went. I'll add more about this in the next post of our thoughts, reviews and tips. Over and out…

Monday, May 09, 2016

I really love to travel. I haven't always had the money or the freedom of schedule to do so, but when I have the chance, I go…dragging along my kids and husband or sometimes my mom on whatever adventure I've hatched. And when we travel, we don't just push back and relax, we explore, we walk and walk and walk, we find hidden gems and we get the local scoop.

The thing I love most about homeschooling is the freedom we have to go and do and explore and learn firsthand anywhere and anytime we choose to do so. We've done a lot of that locally, but we have also taken to the road. We went to Southwest Florida in September, Kansas City area in November, Sioux City, IA in March (believe it or not, there's a lot of history and culture there) and Washington D.C. area in April.

For me, a huge part of travel is the planning that takes place before we leave home. I like to get the best deal. I like to have reservations when able to do so. I like to have an itinerary that allows quite a bit of flexibility. I like to know what our options are for activities, for meals, for breaks, for groceries, for transportation, etc. I explore maps, websites and blogs to the degree that by the time we arrive I already have a general sense of where things are and how to get here and there. I plot and plan and make lists and notes and first drafts of itineraries. I make phone calls and check out deals and FINALLY make out the official itinerary.

Here's how I planned the D.C. trip and how it worked out for us:

Step One: Where are You Going & How are You Getting There?

I had not planned on going to D.C. this year, but then in early January, I happened to see that Southwest Airlines was having a big sale. I scanned the deals from MSP, my home base of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and found that D.C. was the cheapest destination and it was too low to pass up. I phoned my mom to see if she was game to accompany me and the boys and bought the tickets. It's my philosophy that if you find deals that are truly too good not to go, you go!

Now, with Southwest, you can't lose. If you can't make the flight you bought tickets for, you get credit to go somewhere else when you can go. And they don't hide any fees like I have found on Frontier and Spirit. What you see is what you get, PLUS you get 2 FREE checked bags for each ticketed person! We, flying from MSP, are somewhat limited with Southwest, but they keep expanding the number of cities they are flying to from here. In fact, we were on the inaugural flight from MSP to BWI (Baltimore Washington International).

The only problem with flying into BWI is that it's about a 45 min drive to D.C. You can take a train or a taxi or hire a town car. We opted for a town car that was there to pick us up when we arrived and then picked us up from hotel and drove us back to airport at end of stay. I found a good deal on Groupon and then called and negotiated an even better deal. So, it was still cheaper for us to fly Southwest into BWI.

Step Two: Where are You Going to Stay?

The next hurdle was finding cheap, but clean and safe and nearby accommodations for us. How did we travel before the internet was around? Thank goodness for Trip Advisor! I was able to locate and then read hundreds of reviews on a Best Western in Arlington, VA, very near Iwo Jima, the National Cemetery and a big metro station. The reviews were mostly good, but I was able to figure out exactly which rooms/what part of the hotel I wanted to stay in.

So, when I called to book my reservation I knew exactly what to ask for. I have to admit I had concerns we'd get there and it would be a dump, but I also thought hundreds of reviews couldn't have gotten it wrong. We ended up paying $902 for a whole week when many middle range hotels in the area costs $350 a night – ridiculous!

We just needed a place to shower and sleep, basically. I hoped and prayed it would be clean and without bed bugs. And it was perfectly fine. It was clean with no sign of bed bugs. The staff was nice and helpful. It was conveniently located and easy for us to walk, catch a bus or take a short taxi ride. There was a really good (& cheap) pizza place attached to the building, and they even had a gluten free crust for me. Bonus: they always had hot coffee in the lobby – and it was good! Only downside was that it was small and fairly cramped for four people, but again, we were there from about 10 pm to 7:30 am on most days. So, it wasn't a problem. We would definitely stay there again.

Step Three: What are You Going to Do?

I put in a lot of screen time researching and reading reviews and contacting our MN senators regarding tours and events and locations. Then, I logged a number of hours coordinating times and locations. The result was a jam-packed week-long history lesson.

The thing about Washington D.C. is that there are a ton of FREE things to do with your family! How often is that the case when you go on vacation? None of the historical sites, including the Capitol, White House, Library of Congress, National Archives and all the monuments, cost a cent. Additionally, all of the Smithsonian museums are free. AND the DC by Foot tours are free – you just pay your guide a tip at the end, based on what you felt you got out of it and what your budget is. There are even free performances at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts at 6 pm every evening.

Both of our senators had breakfast gatherings for their constituents and this seemed to be a fairly standard practice with other state's senator's offices. So, be sure to check your senator's website. Plus, you'll need to go through your senator's office to get a Capitol tour and White House tour scheduled. They are also able to arrange Pentagon, F.B.I. (recommended age for this one is 16 and older) and other tours.

I'll provide our detailed daily itinerary in the next post.

Step Four: How are You Going to Get Around?

We opted for taxis when we had a specific time to be somewhere first thing in the morning. We got week passes for $11 each to ride the D.C. Circulator trains for nonspecific start time days, on our way back to hotel, around the mall area, etc. And we walked and walked and walked, logging about 15 miles per day. The city is easy to get around in and we met many people who were willing to help with directions or walk us to a station or give us insider tips, etc. We, my mother, two young boys and I, were out after 10 p.m. several nights and were not concerned about our safety. Of course, I always feel less worried about safety in a city I'm unfamiliar with. In your own city, you know where murders typically occur, the areas to avoid, the corner that was on the news last night after a couple was robbed at knifepoint, etc. I know D.C. is not necessarily a safe city, but the areas we were in were vibrant and friendly and filled with police and secret services officers. So, we never felt unsafe.

To Be Continued…Check in later this week for my "Official Itinerary" and our reviews of the things we did and places we went. Over and out…

Monday, May 02, 2016

There has been a lot of discussion on Target's bathroom policy regarding transgender persons. I, myself, am baffled by why this is an issue that Target thought they needed to address. I think people can and have been deciding which bathroom is the right one for them without an official policy announcement.

Target is not the only company who has such a policy that basically says people can use the bathroom that best aligns with the gender they identify themselves as, but by making a formal announcement of this policy they have grabbed the attention of folks who, in the name of protecting Christian values and the sanctity of the family, choose to prey on people's fears of those who are different from themselves and create a culture of hate.

I am pretty sure that we have all been using public bathrooms alongside transgender persons for many, many years. Their use of the public restrooms has not created a danger for women and children (this is the group of people these "Christian Family" groups say they are worried about) any more than using public facilities with any strangers does.

Which brings me to something I have been thinking of lately regarding public bathrooms, having just returned from a weeklong trip to Washington D.C. with my two boys, ages 7 & 9 , and my mother. I, as a female with two boys, worry about bathroom situations every time we are out in public without my husband to go with the boys to the men's bathroom. My boys are getting too old to accompany me into the women's bathroom and yet I do worry about sending them into the men's bathroom alone, not knowing who is in there, the setup of the facilities, the condition of the facilities. When I do send them into a men's bathroom (always the two boys together) I stand VERY near the door and tell them to scream if ANYTHING happens that makes them feel uncomfortable and I'll be there immediately.

These days there is often a family/companion care bathroom available, which is always a relief to me. And I am sure this is also a relief to those who are transgender or don't in some way identify with their gender as we as a society identify such gender.

However, I will say that in certain settings or situations I do bring my boys into the women's bathroom with me. I do this prepared to tell anyone who dares challenge me to mind her own business. No one has ever said a word to me, but I'm always prepared.

Recently my 9 year old was feeling sick while we were out and the only bathroom options were men and women. I was not going to send my son into the men's room when he was sick where I couldn't get to him. We went into the women's bathroom together where I was able to be there with him and help him.

No matter what society says about what we should be doing and how we should be acting, I am a mother first, and I will do what is safest and best for my kids in any situation. However, the real or perceived dangers of a child using a public bathroom without a parent there have always been the same. This policy is not changing the possible threat involved.

So, when these "Christian Family" organizations say, "oh no, we can't let transgender people use the bathroom with US!" And then make people believe that on top of having to worry about transgender persons, this policy will also open the door, literally and figuratively, to people with evil intentions, red flags go up for me. These organizations are Christian in name only. Don't be fooled.

Christ did all things in love and embraced all people, regardless of whether they were sinners or saints, believers or nonbelievers, rich or poor, men or women. We, as Christians, are called to do the same. But these organizations, besides casting a false light on Christ Jesus, are breeding a culture of fear and hate and an Us v. Them attitude.

I would argue that people who intend to commit evil acts don't need a policy in place to perpetrate these crimes. There are bad people out there. Period. And we need to be alert, aware and careful in all situations. True. But I don't think that this policy announcement has increased that threat to women and children. It may, however, have increased the threat to those who are hated and feared because of their differences.

The argument addressed by the American Family Association reminds me of another time; one from not so long ago when in the south there were separate bathrooms for blacks and whites, in addition to separate restaurants, drinking fountains, seating, churches, schools, etc. The white "Christian" men made these rules and laws and drew these lines out of fear and hate, but said it would protect their families and was the right thing to do. Well, thankfully, those laws and rules and way of thinking (for the most part) have been struck down and we see how ridiculous and hate-filled these policies from the past were.

When I read about boycotts and policies and arguments brought forth from these "Christian Family" organizations I see hate and fear and narrow mindedness brought about by ignorance and reliance on people who call themselves good Christian family men and women. I come from Texas and I call myself Christian, and I know and love many people who unwittingly fall for these ruses promoting values and morality that in reality are truly hate and fear of difference and a need to force all people to conform to their views and beliefs.

So, I will continue to worry about the safety of my boys every time I send them into a public men's bathroom alone, but not because I am worried about transgender persons. I will continue to stand VERY close to the door in case I'm needed. And I will continue to work to embrace and pray for all people, even those whose beliefs are so different from mine, such as these people who align themselves with this American Family Association, because that is what Jesus Christ calls us to do. And I will continue to try to teach my boys that we can learn so much from looking at situations from other's points of view and then drawing our own conclusions and showing them how beautiful our world is filled with people with so many differences.